Theft deterrent for office machines and small factory tools

ABSTRACT

A cable device for securing office machines and portable factory tools so to eliminate theft thereof, the device comprising a strong metal cable that cannot be readily cut, and the opposite ends of the cable having securement means that cannot be easily broken off either from the cable or the device to which they are attached. An alarm device responsive to tensioning of the cable is installed around an intermediate portion of said cable.

States Patent Sander Web, 115, 11%72 [54] THEFT DETERRENT FOR OFFICE 3,406,386 10/1968 Hawkins .340/274 MACHINES AND SMALL FAQTURY 3,493,703 2/1970 Finan .340/279 Q E 3,253,270 5/1966 Downer 340/280 [72] Inventor: Paul F. Sander, 1300 Lakeside Drive, primary E i h w c 1 11 h l 1793 Assistant Examiner-Glen R. Swarm, Ill [22 Filed: Dec.8,1970 Y M [2 11 Appl. No.: 96,016 [57] ABSTRACT A cable device for securing ofi'lce machines and portable fac- $3.5 tory tools so to eliminate theft thereof the device comprising a strong metal cable that cannot be readily cut, and the op- [58] new of Search i posite ends of the cable having securement means that cannot be easily broken off either from the cable or the device to which they are attached. An alarm device responsive to ten [56] References cued sioning of the cable is installed around an intermediate portion UNITED STATES PATENTS of Said cable 2,274,870 3/1942 Richards ..340/283 1 (Zlaim, 5 Drawing lFigures K "'r 1 III! 720m, ""u I igZIIIIIi TllillElF'll DETERIRENT IFOIR OFFMIE MAiCllilllNES AND SMALL FACTORY TOOILS This invention relates generally to tethering devices. More specifically it relates to antitheft devices.

It is generally well known that a considerable amount of tools and office equipment such as typewriters, calculators, and the like are stolen every year from most business and industrial companies; such thievery being done not only by thieves breaking in, but being done also by dishonest employees, such thefts therefore being on a magnitude which is ever increasing which corresponds to the general mounting crime rate in all fields at these times. This situation is of course objectionable and therefor in want of improvement.

Accordingly it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a means whereby the theft of small tools from factories, and office machinery such as typewriters, calculators, postal meters and time clocks from offices will be thwarted.

Another object is to provide a theft deterrent which comprises a cable of strong type so that it cannot be readily severed by any cutting tool such as a heavy clipper that might be used by an attempting thief.

Another object is to provide a theft deterrent wherein th ends of the cables are secured in a manner that cannot be readily pulled off a securing device.

Yet another object is to provide a theft deterrent which while restraining the equipment from being stolen, will allow unrestricted movement thereof in a normal use so to not interfere in its intended performance.

Yet a further object is to provide a theft deterrent which can be made in a modified design to include an audible or visual warning device to alert that an attempted thievery is in progress.

Other objects are to provide a theft deterrent which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to use and efficient in operation.

There and other objects will be readily apparent upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the invention shown in operative use.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention shown per se.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified design of the invention which includes an audible warning device.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view thereof.

FIG. 5 is an electrical diagram thereof.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral represents a theft deterrent for office machines and small factory tools according to the present invention wherein there is a cable 11 made of plastic-covered wire or cable that is particularly resistant against being cut by hand-operated nippers or clippers.

At each end of the cable 11 and anchoring lug 12 is secured thereto in a manner so to resist being pulled off the cable upon a violent manual force from a prospective thief. Such securement may include bolting, riveting, welding, very strong adhesive or combinations of these as well as other means.

The lugs 32 are each likewise secured by similar means; one lug being attached to the object intended to be protected from being stolen, such as the typewriter 13 shown in FIG. 1 and the other lug being attached to an anchoring object such as the desk M shown in FIG. l. The securement to the business machine or tool may be upon the surface thereof or within the interior of the housing wherein the lug is quite inaccessible. The same situation may be on the anchoring object, so that the lugs cannot be readily reached for attempted removal or breakage.

In FIGS. 3 through 5, a modified design of theft deterrent i5 is shown and which includes an expandable unit 16 along an intermediate portion of the cable Ill, the unit 16 including a housing 17 comprised of an inner sleeve 1% affixed to one side of cable ill and an outer sleeve 19 affixed to other side of cable 11, the cable portion 20 between the affixed points being relaxed so to allow the outer sleeve to slide longitudinally over the inner sleeve a short distance. A resilient sleeve 21 between a flange 22 integral with the inner sleeve and a flange 23 integral with the outer sleeve normally maintains the sleeves of the housing in a retracted position as shown in FIG. 4.

Within the housing 17, there are contained a pair of dry-cell batteries 24, a buzzer 25, and an electric switch 26 comprised of a contact spring 27 secured to one sleeve and a contact 28 secured to the other sleeve; the spring 27 and contact 28 being positioned so that when the cable is pulled, such as by a thief trying to break it or pull it off the equipment or anchoring device, the spring 27 then contacts the contact 28, thus clos ing the circuit between the batteries and buzzer so that an audible sound will warn other persons within hearing distance of the thievery action. In a modified design, the circuit could operate a visual signal lamp on a control panel in a remote area that is patrolled for watching all the equipment in the plant.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it is to be understood that such changes will be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as is defined by the appended claims.

Having described and illustrated my invention, what I claim as new is:

l. In a theft deterrent, the combination of a tethering cable device between an equipment intended to be protected against theft and an anchoring member, said device having means not easily severed or pulled off from either said equip ment or anchoring member; said cable device comprising a metal wire cable that is plastic coated, and the ends of said cable each being affixed to a lug by weld or other means, and one said lug being secured to said equipment and the other said lug being secured to said anchoring member; a warning unit being installed around an intermediate portion of said cable, said warning unit including a housing comprised of a pair of intersliding sleeves each of which is affixed to spaced-apart points on said cable, a portion of said cable between said points being in a normally slack condition so to permit slidability of said sleeves respective to each other, a battery, buzzer and switch within said housing, said switch comprising a leaf spring contact secured to one sleeve which engages a contact on the other said sleeve when said sleeves are slided in a direction away from each other against a normally resisting spring means, so to close an electrical circuit between said buzzer and battery for audibly warning that said cable is being stressed by pulling. 

1. In a theft deterrent, the combination of a tethering cable device between an equipment intended to be protected against theft and an anchoring member, said device having means not easily severed or pulled off from either said equipment or anchoring member; said cable device comprising a metal wire cable that is plastic coated, and the ends of said cable each being affixed to a lug by weld or other means, and one said lug being secured to said equipment and the other said lug being secured to said anchoring member; a warning unit being installed around an intermediate portion of said cable, said warning unit including a housing comprised of a pair of intersliding sleeves each of which is affixed to spaced-apart points on said cable, a portion of said cable between said points being in a normally slack condition so to permit slidability of said sleeves respective to each other, a battery, buzzer and switch within said housing, said switch comprising a leaf spring contact secured to one sleeve which engages a contact on the other said sleeve when said sleeves are slided in a direction away from each other against a normally resisting spring means, so to close an electrical circuit between said buzzer and battery for audibly warning that said cable is being stressed by pulling. 